o save or destroy werewolf and human worlds. He spoke of Malak's interpretation, how he thought Elara was the one. He used rich sensory det

ed to save the

lara asked Lerder

parched throat. "This is about making choices

. Delicate golden sparks swirled upon her fingers, as though lea

?" Lerder aske

uddenly, he was assaulted by a gust of atmosph

breathed softly, her gaze w

grandmother's tales

to her, an urge to protect her to be responsible. Elara told me of her grandmother's stories of an ancient power in her bloodline – one intertwined with a prophecy o

rous secret she had just begun to grasp. She spoke in terror and determina

in combat?" Lerder inquired, his gaze sharp. He

of protectiveness over her which surp

Elara p

and energy. It was fri

whispered hoarsely, hi

hension that belied their differences. The space between them crackled with unspoken tension. They edg

the golden radiance, it was deeper. There his fingers steering Elara with an intensity he wondered at, the forest was his familiar hun

finger pointing to an unfamili

have I come across

full of secret

peared from him, to be replaced by something tender. He'd never reacted so intensely to a hu

to the prophecy, her family and increasing power in her. They discussed old

ng a tightrope,"

all come crashing down."

l," Lerder said to her, fu

Elara breathed, her

do with survival. A mutual attraction, something more, something tangible was beginning to

at mean?" El

" Lerder said, ever

ous than Malak. And something t

esonating off through

ay a still strength, a deeper dependence upon one another. Their fear increased with an awareness of in

aced it together. The howl of terror howled through the woods, a

onition that left ice in his veins, but he maintained

d, not daring to raise her hea

lt the power burning inside her boil over, churn

sing being high, his senses maxed,

hing. Malak is not our biggest

ething old, something far more deadly than anything they'd ever faced. As if in response to Lerder's words, the bushes shook, and an enormous shape loomed at th

. This is something else, much greater and Ancient. I am not afraid at least Lerder is with me

ergy. The ground shook, cavern walls seemed to tremble. Lerder and Elara faced one another, clasped hands, locked gazes for an instant in mutual honou